RAYS 5, Chicago 0 Tropicana FieldSt. Petersburg, FL

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You knew it was coming, but hey, at least I made it through a few days before trying to slam or tap the brakes on the Edwin Jackson love affair.

via d.yimg.com

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RAYS 6, New York 3 Yankee Stadium Bronx, NY

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There is an interesting backstory to the reduction of OF Jonny Gomes' suspension from two games to one, and Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times has it covered:

First, at around 4:10 p.m., the Rays were told it (the suspension being served) would be Friday. Forty minutes later, they were told it was changed to Sunday. Then an hour later it was back to Friday. Making it more confusing, the info was coming in media advisories sent to Rays communications director Chris Costello rather than direct word from MLB to Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman.

"I was just none too pleased with the process and the communication," Friedman said. "It doesn't much matter to us when it is and whatever else, it was just the process seemed a bit confusing."

Apparently, representatives of the MLBPA had bargained the reduction of Gomes' suspension, as well as the suspensions of Yankee OFs Melky Cabrera and Shelley Duncan, in a "secret deal" before their appellate hearings were to be held on Monday. Gomes was angling to serve the suspension on Sunday, rather than today, because he was scheduled to be in the starting lineup going into tonight's game and he would not have been in the lineup Sunday. MLB eventually said that Gomes had to serve the suspension last night, and he did so, but the message apparently didn't get out too well. Meanwhile:

• LHP Scott Kazmir will throw his final bullpen session this morning at the Naimoli Complex, and will move on to throwing batting practice sessions from there. He hopes to return by the end of the month.
• Florida Governor Charlie Crist and former Bucs FB Mike Alstott will throw out the first pitches at the Rays' home opener on Tuesday. Crist threw out the first pitch at the home opener last year as well.
  
• Apparently, Manager Joe Maddon wanted to give 3B Willy Aybar an extra day's rest for his sore left hamstring, and that is why he left him out of the lineup last night. Aybar will start this afternoon at Yankee Stadium.
• Starting with the home opener, the Rays will play 17 of their 19 games at home and 34 of their next 51. The Rays have 34 games scheduled through June 1st at home; that is the most home games scheduled for any American League club through that date.
• The Rays are opening something called the "Budweiser Party Tent" in Lot 7 this season for all Prime and Weekend games, plus the home opener. Lot 7 is located to the east of the stadium in the main parking lot. It is to the south of the walkway to Gate 1.
• Rays 1B Carlos Peña will receive his AL Comeback Player of the Year Award before the home opener.
  
• The only player to go into the Hall of Fame as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, DE Lee Roy Selmon, will throw out the first pitch for next Friday's home game against the Baltimore Orioles.
  

• The Tampa Tribune reports that the hairline fracture in IF Ben Zobrist's left thumb still has not healed; it is an ailment that could keep him out until mid-April. Zobrist will be checked out again on Monday.
• According to the same article, OF Jonny Gomes is scheduled to make his first start of the season tonight in Baltimore. He will be the third right fielder the Rays have used in as many games. Gomes' only plate appearance this season came last night as a pinch hitter for Cliff Floyd in the ninth; he popped out into shallow center to end the game. Gomes also saw the appellate hearing for his two-game suspension postponed until Monday in New York, making him eligible for play through the weekend.
  
• Shawn Riggans and Elliot Johnson will make their first starts of the season on Saturday in New York. They will be the Catcher and Designated Hitter, respectively, and will face Yankees LHP Andy Pettitte.
• Meanwhile, Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times says that RHP Grant Balfour has cleared waivers and will be given an outright assignment to the bullpen in AAA Durham. Whether he accepts that outright assignment is not yet known, though the Times reports that he stands to collect a $175,000 salary should he do so.
• Lastly, Marc Lancaster of the Tribune writes that chances are less than good that tonight's game against the Orioles will be played, thanks to a 90% chance of rain. Lancaster further speculates that the make-up opportunities for a rain-out today could be slim, with August 21st being the only logical one in his mind as it is a mutual off day.